"Of the approximately 160,000 Pennsylvania lambs marketedeach year, 30 percent are sold as off-season and holidaylambs. These lambs are marketed using both conventional(auctions, slaughterhouses, and brokers) and nonconventional(niche markets, specialty stores, and direct marketing)methods. The ideal market weight is 110 pounds for offseasonlambs and 40 to 45 pounds for holiday lambs."

"Important new regulations in Pennsylvania have resulted in drastic changes to farmers' milk checks. Federal order reform has implemented Multiple Component Pricing (MCP), which eliminates flat milk prices and instead pays farmers for the actual amounts of various components in their milk. This 12-page publication explains MCP, illustrates the new milk check, and instructs farmers on performing simple calculations to compare their new milk prices to order averages. A final section describes steps farmers can take to obtain higher component levels from their herds."

"Feeder lamb production is a livestock enterprise adaptableto small-scale and part-time farms in Pennsylvania. Feederlambs are purchased as premarket-weight lambs, fed to adesirable market weight, and then sold. When purchased,lambs can weigh as little as 35 pounds or less and as muchas 60 pounds. These lambs are usually marketed at 110pounds through local auctions, slaughterhouses, brokers,and individuals. In recent years, direct markets, nichemarkets, tel-a-auctions, and marketing cooperatives havebecome popular for selling lambs. The wool is sold throughlocal and national markets, brokers, and wool cooperatives."

"Heifers are the foundation of any dairy enterprise. Farmerscan improve their herds by replacing culled cows with wellfed,healthy, genetically superior 2-year-old heifers.In mostherds, dairy farmers replace 25 to 30 percent of the herd each year. These replacements represent a significantfinancial investment.Dairy heifer production in the Northeast and the Midwesthas typically been the responsibility of dairy farmers.However, milk producers in other parts of the country oftenbuy bred replacement heifers or contract their own heifersout to other growers."

"Heifers are the foundation of any dairy enterprise. Farmerscan improve their herds by replacing culled cows with wellfed, healthy, genetically superior 2-year-old heifers. In most herds, dairy farmers replace 25 to 30 percent of the herd each year. These replacements represent a significant financial investment.Dairy heifer production in the Northeast and the Midwesthas typically been the responsibility of dairy farmers.However, milk producers in other parts of the country oftenbuy bred replacement heifers or contract their own heifersout to other growers."

"Goat is the most highly consumed meat in the world; andmore goat?s milk is consumed worldwide than cow?s milk.In the United States, meat goat production is increasingbecause of goats? economic value as efficient converters oflow-quality forages into quality meat, milk, and hideproducts for specialty markets."

"Rabbit farming has grown from raising a few rabbits forfamily consumption to large commercial operations withhundreds of rabbits. Approximately 200,000 producersmarket 6 to 8 million rabbits annually in the United States,where 8 to 10 million pounds of rabbit meat are consumedeach year. Laboratories use nearly 600,000 rabbits a year for medical experiments and new product testing. On theinternational market, nearly 10,000 tons of Angora wool areconsumed annually."

"The equine industry in Pennsylvania has doubled in sizesince 1967 and continues to expand and diversify. As aresult, the demand for horse boarding services has increased. Many Pennsylvanians enjoy a variety of recreational activities involving horses, such as trail riding, participating in horse and pony clubs, and competing in shows and other events. Horses contribute to the state?s economy by creating a market for feed, supplies, and the services of boarders, veterinarians, trainers, breeders, and farriers."

"Dairy goat production is an alternative livestock enterprisesuitable for many small-scale or part-time livestock operations.Some dairy goat producers have been successful inpasteurizing goat milk and building an on-farm juggingbusiness; others have ventured into processed milk productsfor retail distribution. The potential also exists for selling milk to processors, usually on a regional basis. Although fluid milk and processed products are important markets, dairy goat producers should also consider the potential for selling animals to hobbyists and youth involved in vocational agriculture livestock projects."